Kyle Meadows – “Goin’ Down”
This artist is creepily similar to Elliott Smith vocal territory. He has the same talent of balancing sweet instrumentation with endearing lyrics. The result is both nostalgic and visceral. There is a temporal beauty to his work and we are only further intrigued for his new album. This first single is an appreciated first step toward a welcoming audience that will be surprised. Meadows is sure to pick up some fans with this one.
Born Rivals – “Fading Stars”
This US band shows similarities to Oasis but without the band dysfunction. Their strength is band chemistry and building a large sound within the three and a half minute exploration of sonic goodness. It grooves and shakes with expert precision and their sound is much bigger than the earphones that attempt to contain it. The act is a definite can’t miss. If you are looking for float rock that punches as much as it carries on, then this is your jam.
Small Talk – “Clementine”
This Boston act sways between folk, indie rock, and just good old-fashioned rock and roll. Vocally it is sweet and enigmatic, but sonically it finds peaks and valleys to stow away. “Clementine” stays with you long after the final play. The bass line alone is fun and feisty, just like the band. We don’t know an example to compare it to, which is a good thing for the up and coming jam band. The track floats on a sonic riff that is all it’s own. We think you will agree with it’s brand of exuberant rock.
Henry Green – “Shift”
Green is an artist to watch. The unbreakable minimal electro sound is something special. The young artist shows a knack for crafting endearing and lovely on “Shift”. “We’re constantly moving in some manner, at some pace… whether its physically or emotionally,” the artist explains. “This year was all about progression and change for me, so I found myself constantly gravitating towards that idea of movement in my lyrics. ‘Shift’ was a word that just kept reappearing when writing the tracks, whether I was describing the structures of the tracks, the instrumentation/arrangement and obviously, the lyrics. I wanted to exhibit a feeling of constant movement in the album and that idea that every element is constantly shifting, but at a variety of paces.” The end result is compelling and a site favorite.
Hurst – “Rattle Kids”
The Australian rock act Hurst craft some great anthems. “Rattle Kids” nears perfection and is similar to the likes of Weezer and Pixies. Mixing strong vocals with pop melodies, their sound is seamless on the track. While being a bit of a throwback, the act has a modern rock infusion that is highly welcome. The result is a track that never lets up or quits. We are excited to hear more from the scorched earth sounds of Hurst. 2018 should be a big year for them.
